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the outer bark consisting of distinct, thin, papery layers, peeling off in broad, horizontal rolls. In these layers, the lenticels appear as pink, elongated, oblong patches. Wood white, with pinkish tinge, tough, even-grained, moderately hard. (Gamble). Youngest shoots and leaves pubescent. Pith oblong. Leaves 2-3in. ovate, acuminate, irregularly serrate, glandular beneath, slightly hairy along midrib and nerves, which latter are in 8-12 pair. Petiole ½-⅔in. Bracts of male spikes ciliate, stipulate ; anther-cells glabrous, save with a few hair at the tips. Female spikes solitary, stout ; bracts pubescent, l-2in. by ½-⅛in. diam. Nuts with a narrow wing ; bracts in fruit coriaceous, deeply, 3- lobed, broader than the wings of the nut.

Uses : — The decoction of the bark is used as a wash in otorrhœa and poisoned wounds. (U. C. Dutt ) The infusion of the bark is used as a carminative ; it is prescribed also in hysteria. It has also certain aromatic and antiseptic properties.

Vern. : — Banj, ban or bán (Kumaon) ; Sila supári (Kashmir) ; Bán, ban, rin, rinj, vari, banj, máru, kharshu, shindar, kharpata serei, daghun-bán (Pb.)

Habitat: — Temperate Himalaya; from the Salt Range and Murree to East Nepal.

An evergreen tree, attaining 50-80ft. and trunk 4-12ft. in girth ; bark dark-grey, rough with cracks and fissures. Leaves 3-6 by l-2in., oblong or ovate-oblong or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, mucronate-serrate, tough and coriaceous, young pinkish and woolly all over, mature dark-green and glabrous above, densely white or grey, rarely brownish, tomentose beneath ; lateral nerves 12-20 pairs, straight, parallel ; base acute ; petiole ½-¾in. long. Male spikes slender, drooping, 2-4in. long, often much interrupted ; perianth 4-5-lobed ; anthers glabrous. Female flowers axillary, sessile, solitary or clustered on current year's shoots ; styles linear-clavate, spreading. Acorn generally solitary, usually on current year's shoots ; cup at first enclosing the nut, glabrate, rough, woody ;